World Cup qualification round-up: Northern Ireland claim famous draw in Portugal

Ronaldo throws a wobbly

A spirited Northern Ireland held Portugal to a sensational 1-1 draw in Porto and were only 11 minutes away from claiming all three points.

Celtic winger Niall McGinn shocked the side ranked No.3 in FIFA’s world ranking in the first half after he finished off a flowing move that started with Cristiano Ronaldo, who was making his 100th appearance for Portugal, giving the ball away very cheaply.

Northern Ireland then put in a stoic defensive performance, keeping the likes of Ronaldo and Nani at bay, spearheaded by a sterling performance at centre-half by Jonny Evans. One lapse in concentration on 79 minutes though allowed Portugal to equalise through former Tottenham striker Helder Postiga. It was a scrappy goal as Postiga showed his predatory instincts to stab home from four yards out.

The pressure on the shoulders of Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni was briefly lifted after his side beat the Faroe Islands 4-1.

That said this victory may still not be enough for the Italian to keep his job after reports of unrest within the Irish camp. There was an added twist following this win when it was revealed that Trapattoni’s media de-brief he usually holds a day after a game has been cancelled. He looks a dead man walking.

The players did put their best forward in the Faroe Islands, however, as goals from Marc Wilson, Jon Walters, Darren O’Dea and a Pol Justinussen own-goal were enough to put the 6-1 hammering they received against Germany on Friday firmly in the past.

Wilson's first senior international goal got the visitors up and running just after half-time and when Walters struck on 53 minutes, the victory looked sewn up. There was a brief threat of a comeback after Faroes substitute Arnbjorn Hansen reduced the deficit with a 68th-minute header, but Justinussen's own goal and O'Dea’s late header left Irish eyes smiling.

Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for the 2014 tournament are all but over as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat against Belgium. The two goals came within three minutes each other in the second half were enough to undo a timid Scottish side. Christian Benteke rose at the back post to meet a cross from Kevin De Bruyne with 69 minutes gone and skipper Vincent Kompany smashed home the second just three minutes later.

Lewis Jones

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